Induction heating power supplies, data collection systems, and induction heating systems to communicate over an induction heating cable

ABSTRACT

Induction heating power supplies, data collection systems, and induction heating systems to communicate over an induction heating cable are disclosed. An example induction heating power supply includes a power conversion circuit configured to: convert input power into induction heating power and transmit the induction heating power via an induction heating cable, and at least one of a receiver circuit coupled to the induction heating cable and configured to receive data via the induction heating cable or a transmitter circuit coupled to the induction heating cable and configured to transmit data via the induction heating cable.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to induction heating, and moreparticularly to induction heating power supplies, data collectionsystems, and induction heating systems to communicate over an inductionheating cable.

SUMMARY

Induction heating power supplies, data collection systems, and inductionheating systems to communicate over an induction heating cable aredisclosed, substantially as illustrated by and described in connectionwith at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in theclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example induction heating system in accordance withaspects of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a circuit schematic diagram of an example implementation ofthe induction heating system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows another example induction heating system in accordance withaspects of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another example heating system thatincludes a heating power supply having a transceiver circuit, and a datacollection device that includes a transceiver circuit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another example heating system thatincludes a heating power supply having a transmitter circuit, and a datacollection device that includes a receiver circuit and a controlcircuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “port” refers to one or more terminals(s),connector(s), plug(s), and/or any other physical interface(s) fortraversal of one or more inputs and/or outputs. Example ports includeweld cable connections at which a weld cable is physically attached to adevice, a gas hose connector connectors that may make physical and/orelectrical connections for input and/or output of electrical signalsand/or power, physical force and/or work, fluid, and/or gas.

As used herein, the term “induction heating power” refers to ACelectrical power capable of inducing a current in a workpiece whenflowing through an appropriately arranged cable so as to heat theworkpiece by magnetic induction.

As used herein, a “circuit” includes any analog and/or digitalcomponents, power and/or control elements, such as a microprocessor,digital signal processor (DSP), software, and the like, discrete and/orintegrated components, or portions and/or combinations thereof.

Disclosed example induction heating power supplies include a powerconversion circuit configured to convert input power into inductionheating power and transmit the induction heating power via an inductionheating cable, and at least one of a receiver circuit coupled to theinduction heating cable and configured to receive data via the inductionheating cable or a transmitter circuit coupled to the induction heatingcable and configured to transmit data via the induction heating cable.

Some example induction heating power supplies further include a controlcircuit configured to control the power conversion circuit to modify theinduction heating power based on the data. In some examples, the dataincludes at least one of an ambient temperature at a workpiece beingheated with the induction heating cable, a temperature of the inductionheating cable, a temperature of a blanket in contact with the inductionheating cable, a temperature of the workpiece, a coolant temperature, acoolant pressure, a coolant flow rate, a current measurement of currentflowing through the induction heating cable, a voltage measurement of avoltage at the induction heating cable, an error signal, or a controlsignal. In some examples, the data includes at least one of a workpieceidentifier, an induction heating cable identifier, an operatoridentifier, date information, time information, geographic information,a cable fixture identifier, or operator input.

In some examples, the receiver circuit and/or the transmitter circuitinclude at least one of a high pass filter circuit or a bandpass filtercircuit to attenuate the induction heating power. In some examples, thereceiver circuit and/or the transmitter circuit include a low passfilter circuit to attenuate the induction heating power. Some exampleinduction heating power supplies further include an isolation circuit toselectively electrically isolate the receiver circuit and/or thetransmitter circuit based on whether the induction heating power isflowing through the induction heating cable.

Some examples further include an antenna configured to receive the datafrom the induction heating cable, the receiver circuit comprising aradio receiver to wirelessly receive the data via the antenna. Someexamples further include a data storage device configured to store thedata as the data is received at the receiver circuit. Some such examplesfurther include a second transmitter circuit to transmit the storeddata.

In some examples, the power conversion circuit, when not outputting theinduction heating power via the induction heating cable, outputs a pulsevia the induction heating cable, the receiver circuit configured toreceive the data via the induction heating cable in response to thepulse. In some examples, the power conversion circuit provides theinduction heating power via the induction heating cable for a first timeperiod, reduces or removes the induction heating power for a second timeperiod following the first time period, and provides the inductionheating power via the induction heating cable during a third time periodfollowing the second time period. The receiver circuit receives the dataduring the second time period.

Disclosed example induction heating data collection devices include atransmitter circuit to transmit induction heating data via analternating current signal at a frequency different than an inductionheating current frequency on an induction heating cable, and a couplingcircuit to couple the transmitter circuit to the induction heatingcable.

In some examples the coupling circuit includes a current transformermagnetically coupled to the induction heating cable or a cable tap thatcouples the coupling circuit in parallel with an inductance of aworkpiece heated by the induction heating cable. Some example inductionheating data collection devices further include a filter circuit toattenuate the induction heating current frequency between thetransmitter circuit and the coupling circuit. Some example inductionheating data collection devices further include an energy storage deviceto provide power to the transmitter circuit when induction heating poweris not being transmitted through the induction heating cable. Some suchexamples further include a power extraction circuit to extract powerfrom the induction heating cable via the coupling circuit to charge theenergy storage device.

Some example induction heating data collection devices further include apower extraction circuit to extract power from the induction heatingcable via the coupling circuit and to provide power to the transmittercircuit. Some examples further include at least one of: a sensordigitizer to receive data from at least one of a temperature sensor, acoolant pressure sensor, a coolant flow sensor, or a location sensor; adata reader to read an identifier; or a user interface to receive thedata. Some example induction heating data collection devices furtherinclude a receiver circuit to receive second data via the inductionheating cable.

Some example induction heating systems include an induction heatingcable, an induction heating data collection device, and an inductionheating power supply. The induction heating cable delivers inductionheating power to a workpiece according to an arrangement of theinduction heating cable proximate the workpiece. The induction heatingdata collection device is inductively coupled to the induction heatingcable proximate the workpiece, collects induction heating datacorresponding to delivery of the induction heating power to theworkpiece via the induction heating cable, and transmits the inductionheating data via the inductive coupling and the induction heating cable.The induction heating power supply outputs the induction heating powerand receives the induction heating data via the induction heating cable.

In some examples, the induction heating data includes an ambienttemperature at the workpiece, a temperature of the induction heatingcable, a temperature of a blanket in contact with the induction heatingcable, a temperature of the workpiece, a coolant temperature, a coolantpressure, a coolant flow rate, a current measurement of current flowingthrough the induction heating cable, and/or a voltage measurement of avoltage at the induction heating cable, and the induction heating powersupply logs the induction heating data in a storage device.

In some examples, the induction heating power supply transmits theinduction heating data to a server. In some examples, the inductionheating data collection device draws power from the induction heatingcable. In some examples, the induction heating power supply furtherincludes a second transmitter circuit to transmit second data via theinduction heating cable, and the induction heating data collectiondevice further includes a second receiver circuit to receive the seconddata via the induction heating cable.

FIG. 1 shows an example induction heating system 100. The exampleinduction heating system 100 of FIG. 1 includes an induction heatingpower supply 102, an induction heating cable 104, and a data collectiondevice 106. The induction heating power supply 102 heats a workpiece 108by transmitting induction heating power to the workpiece 108 via theinduction heating cable 104, which is arranged proximate the workpiece108 to induce current in the workpiece 108 via magnetic induction fromthe current in the induction heating cable 104.

The induction heating power supply 102 supplies induction heating powerto the workpiece 108 and receives data from the data collection device106, both via the induction heating cable 104. The induction heatingpower supply 102 includes a power conversion circuit 110, a receivercircuit 112, a filter circuit 114, a control circuit 116, a transmittercircuit 118, and a storage device 120.

The example power conversion circuit 110 converts input power 122 intoinduction heating power and transmits the induction heating power viathe induction heating cable 104. For example, the power conversioncircuit 110 may receive utility power and/or generator power, convertthe input power 122 to a frequency suitable for heating the particulartype of workpiece 108, and transmit the power via the induction heatingcable 104. The induction heating cable 104 includes one or moreconductors for conducting current, which can be arranged proximate aworkpiece to heat the workpiece by induction.

The receiver circuit 112 coupled to the induction heating cable 104 andconfigured to receive data via the induction heating cable 104. Asdisclosed in more detail below, the power conversion circuit 110 outputsthe induction heating power at a first frequency and the receivercircuit 112 receives the data at a second frequency different than thefirst frequency. To separate the data from the induction heating power,the induction heating power supply 102 includes a filter circuit 114that attenuates the induction heating power. The filter circuit 114 maybe a high pass filter and/or a bandpass filter for data signals that aresubstantially higher than the induction heating power frequency. Thefilter circuit 114 may be a low pass filter for data signals that aresubstantially lower that the induction heating power frequency.

While the example filter circuit 114 is shown as directly coupled to theinduction heating cable 104 in parallel with the workpiece 108, in otherexamples the filter circuit 114 is directly coupled in series with theinduction heating cable 104, inductively coupled to the inductionheating cable 104, wirelessly coupled to the induction heating cable104, and/or directly connected to the induction heating cable 104.

The control circuit 116 controls the power conversion circuit 110 tomodify the induction heating power based on data received by thereceiver circuit 112. For example, the data may include one or more ofan ambient temperature at the workpiece 108 (e.g., a temperature of animmediately local environment, such as air temperature around theworkpiece 108) being heated with the induction heating cable 104, atemperature of the induction heating cable 104, a temperature of ablanket in contact with the induction heating cable 104, a temperatureof the workpiece 108, a measurement of current flowing through theinduction heating cable 104, a voltage measurement of a voltage at theinduction heating cable 104 (e.g., a voltage across the portion of theinduction heating cable 104 inductively coupled to the workpiece 108),and/or an error signal. Additionally or alternatively, when theinduction heating cable 104 is a liquid cooled cable, the data mayinclude one or more of a temperature of coolant flowing through theinduction heating cable 104, a coolant pressure, and/or a coolant flowrate. In some examples, the data may include one or more of a workpieceidentifier, an induction heating cable identifier, an operatoridentifier, date information, time information, geographic information,a cable fixture identifier, and/or any type of operator or user inputentered at the data collection device 106.

As used herein, a “blanket” refers to an insulative layer covering theinduction heating cables and which protect the cables. As used herein,the term “identifier” may include a serial number, a model number, orany other identification value, and which may be expressed as a quickread (QR) code, a bar code, a human readable number, a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tag, and/or any other machine readable indicia.

The control circuit 116 may control the power conversion circuit 110based on the data to, for example, increase and/or decrease theinduction heating power output, stop and/or start the induction heatingpower output, modify the frequency of the induction heating poweroutput, and/or perform any other control or modification.

The transmitter circuit 118 transmits some or all of the received datato, for example, a local or remote storage device, a local or remoteserver, and/or any other device. An example recipient of thetransmission of the data may be, for example, a computer or a serverconfigured with Insight® software sold by Miller Electric®. Additionallyor alternatively, the storage device 120 stores the received data forlater retrieval and/or transmission by the transmitter circuit 118. Theexample transmitter circuit 118 may include a wireless communicationstransmitter (e.g., cellular, Long Term Evolution (LTE), WiFi,Bluetooth®, etc.) and/or a wired communications transmitter (e.g.,Ethernet, CAN, USB etc.). The example storage device 120 may be anintegrated storage device such as a hard drive, solid state storage, ormemory device, or a removable storage device such as a USB drive orother connected storage.

The example transmitter circuit 118 and the example receiver circuit 112may communicate using any appropriate modulation scheme. By way ofexample, the transmitter circuit 118 and the example receiver circuit112 may communicate using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing(OFDM), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), Frequency Shift Keying,and/or any other analog, digital, and/or spread spectrum modulationschemes, and/or any combination of modulation schemes. Exampletechniques that may be implemented by the transmitter circuit 118 and/orthe receiver circuit 112 are described by Yonge et al., “An Overview ofthe HomePlug AV2 Technology,” Journal of Electrical and ComputerEngineering, Volume 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated hereinby reference. However, other techniques may be used by either thetransmitter circuit 118 or the receiver circuit 112.

The example induction heating data collection device 106 includes aninduction data framer 124, a transmitter circuit 126, a coupling circuit128, a power extraction circuit 130, an energy storage device 132, asensor digitizer 134, a data reader 136, and a user interface 138.

The induction data framer 124 frames induction heating data fortransmission via the induction heating cable 104. The induction heatingdata may be generated from sensor data collected by one or more sensors140 and converted to digital data via the sensor digitizer 134, receivedfrom the data reader 136, and/or input by a user or operator via theuser interface 138. The example sensor(s) may include 140 a temperaturesensor (e.g., a thermocouple, a thermistor, a resistive temperaturedevice, an infrared sensor, etc.), a coolant pressure sensor, or acoolant flow sensor, and/or a location sensor. Example induction heatingdata includes one or more of an ambient temperature at the workpiece 108being heated with the induction heating cable 104, a temperature of theinduction heating cable 104, a temperature of a blanket in contact withthe induction heating cable 104, a temperature of the workpiece 108, ameasurement of current flowing through the induction heating cable 104,a voltage measurement of a voltage at the induction heating cable 104(e.g., a voltage across the portion of the induction heating cable 104inductively coupled to the workpiece 108), an error signal, atemperature of coolant flowing through the induction heating cable 104,a coolant pressure, a coolant flow rate, a workpiece identifier, aninduction heating cable identifier, an operator identifier, dateinformation, time information, geographic information, a cable fixtureidentifier, and/or any type of operator or user input entered at thedata collection device 106.

The example data reader 136 may be a e.g., RFID reader, barcode scanner,QR code scanner, and/or any other type of data reader 136. The exampleuser interface 138 may include any type(s) of user interface devices,such as selection buttons, switches, dials, number pads, touchscreens,and/or any other type of user interface device.

The example transmitter circuit 126 transmits the induction heating datavia an AC signal, using a frequency different than an induction heatingcurrent frequency, on the induction heating cable 104 (e.g., output bythe induction heating power supply 102). The example transmitter circuit126 is coupled to the induction heating cable 104 via the couplingcircuit 128 and a filter circuit 142. The filter circuit 142 enables thefrequency transmitted by the transmitter circuit 126 to be output to thecoupling circuit 128 while attenuating the frequencies of the inductionheating power. The example coupling circuit 128 of FIG. 1 includes acurrent transformer magnetically coupled to the induction heating cable104.

The power extraction circuit 130 extracts power from the inductionheating cable 104 via the coupling circuit 128 to power the transmittercircuit 126, the induction data framer 124, the sensor digitizer 134,the data reader 136, and/or the user interface 138, and/or to charge theenergy storage device 132. The example energy storage device 132provides power to the transmitter circuit 126, the induction data framer124, the sensor digitizer 134, the data reader 136, and/or the userinterface 138 when the power extraction circuit 130 is not capable ofpowering the components. The example energy storage device 132 mayinclude one or more batteries, one or more capacitors, and/or any othertype of energy storage device.

In some examples, the data collection device 106 can be powered by theinduction heating power supply 102 to enable the data collection device106 to collect and/or send data while induction heating power is notbeing applied to the induction heating cable 104. The power conversioncircuit 110 may output a pulse via the induction heating cable 104 topower the data collection device 106. After outputting the pulse, thepower conversion circuit 110 turns off the power and the receivercircuit 112 receives data transmitted from the data collection devicevia the induction heating cable 104 in response to the pulse.

In some examples, the induction heating power supply 102 providesintermittent power to heat the workpiece 108 and, while not providingpower, receives the data at the receiver circuit 112. In some suchexamples, communication only occurs when the induction heating powersupply 102 is not outputting induction heating power, and the controlcircuit 116 implements logic to connect or enable the receiver circuit102 to receive communications when the power supply 102 is not providingheating power. For example, the power conversion circuit 110 outputs theinduction heating power via the induction heating cable 104 for a firsttime period, reduces or removes the induction heating power for a secondtime period following the first time period, outputs the inductionheating power again during a third time period following the second timeperiod, and so on. The receiver circuit 112 receives the data during thesecond time period. In some examples, instead of or in addition toincluding the filter circuit 114 to couple the receiver circuit 112 tothe induction heating cable 104, the induction heating power supply 102includes a relay, a contactor, or another type of isolation device toselectively connect and disconnect the receiver circuit 112 from theinduction heating cable 104. The control circuit 116 coordinates thepower conversion circuit 110 and the isolation device to connect thereceiver circuit 112 when the power conversion circuit 110 is notoutputting the induction heating power and to disconnect the receivercircuit 112 when the power conversion circuit 110 is outputting theinduction heating power.

Conversely, the example heating power supply 102 may be configured toenable and/or connect the receiver circuit 112 to receive the data whenthe induction heating power supply 102 is outputting induction heatingpower, and the control circuit 116 implements logic to disconnect and/ordisable the receiver circuit 102 when the power supply 102 is notproviding heating power.

FIG. 2 is a circuit schematic diagram of an example implementation ofthe induction heating system 100 of FIG. 1. The circuit schematicillustrated in FIG. 2 includes example implementations orrepresentations of the filter circuit 114, the induction heating cable104, the transmitter circuit 126, the filter circuit 142, the powerextraction circuit 130, and the coupling circuit 128.

FIG. 3 shows another example induction heating system 300. In contrastwith the example system 100 of FIG. 1, the system 300 of FIG. 3implements one or more cable taps 302 in the coupling circuit 128 tocouple the transmitter circuit 126 in parallel with an inductance of theworkpiece 108 being heated by the induction heating cable 104.

In an example of operation of the systems 100, 300 of FIGS. 1 and/or 3,the control circuit 116 enables the power conversion circuit 110 tooutput the induction heating power via the induction heating cable 104at a first frequency to heat the workpiece 108. As the induction heatingpower is flowing through the induction heating cable 104, the examplepower extraction circuit 130 extracts a portion of the induction heatingpower to power the induction data framer 124, the transmitter circuit126, the sensor digitizer 134, the data reader 136, and/or the userinterface 138, and/or to power the energy storage device 132. The sensordigitizer 134 digitizes signals received from the sensor(s) 140 (e.g., avoltage signal from a thermocouple measuring the temperature of theworkpiece 108 as the workpiece 108 is heated) and provides the signalsto the transmitter circuit 126. The transmitter circuit 126 transmitsthe data from the sensor digitizer 134 at a frequency different than thefrequency of the induction heating power. For example, the transmittercircuit 126 may transmit the data at a frequency several orders ofmagnitude higher than the frequency of the induction heating power. Thefilter circuit 114 permits the transmitted data to be received at thereceiver circuit 112, which reads the data from the induction heatingcable 104. The receiver circuit 112 may store the data in the storagedevice 120, provide the data to the transmitter circuit 118 fortransmission to a data collection server (or other device), and/orprovide the data to the control circuit 116 for controlling theinduction heating.

In some examples, the data collection devices 106 of FIGS. 1 and/or 3can be powered by the induction heating power supply 102 to enable thedata collection device 106 to collect and/or send data while inductionheating power is not being applied to the induction heating cable 104.The power conversion circuit 110 may output a pulse via the inductionheating cable 104 to power the data collection device 106. Afteroutputting the pulse, the power conversion circuit 110 turns off thepower and the receiver circuit 112 receives data transmitted from thedata collection device via the induction heating cable 104 in responseto the pulse.

In some examples, the induction heating power supply 102 providesintermittent power to heat the workpiece 108 and, while not providingpower, receives the data at the receiver circuit 112. For example, thepower conversion circuit 110 outputs the induction heating power via theinduction heating cable 104 for a first time period, reduces or removesthe induction heating power for a second time period following the firsttime period, outputs the induction heating power again during a thirdtime period following the second time period, and so on. The receivercircuit 112 receives the data during the second time period. In someexamples, instead of or in addition to including the filter circuit 114to couple the receiver circuit 112 to the induction heating cable 104,the induction heating power supply 102 includes a relay, a contactor, oranother type of isolation device to selectively connect and disconnectthe receiver circuit 112 from the induction heating cable 104. Thecontrol circuit 116 coordinates the power conversion circuit 110 and theisolation device to connect the receiver circuit 112 when the powerconversion circuit 110 is not outputting the induction heating power andto disconnect the receiver circuit 112 when the power conversion circuit110 is outputting the induction heating power.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another example heating system 400 thatincludes a heating power supply 402 having a transceiver circuit 404,and a data collection device 406 that includes a transceiver circuit408. The example heating power supply 402 includes the power conversioncircuit 110, the filter circuit 114, the control circuit 116, thetransmitter circuit 118, and/or the storage device 120 as describedabove. The example data collection device 406 includes the inductiondata framer 124, the power extraction circuit 130, the energy storagedevice 132, the sensor digitizer 134, the data reader, the userinterface 138, and/or the filter circuit 142 of FIGS. 1 and/or 3.

In contrast with the example heating power supplies 102 of FIGS. 1 and3, the heating power supply 402 is also capable of transmitting data viathe induction heating cable 104 to the data collection device 406 (e.g.,bidirectional communication between the heating power supply 402 and thedata collection device 406). In addition to the example data transmittedby the data collection device to the heating power supply 402 via theinduction heating cable 104, the heating power supply 402 may transmitdata, such as control or configuration data, to the data collectiondevice 406 for implementation by a control circuit 410 at the datacollection device 406. Additionally or alternatively, the heating powersupply 402 may transmit handshake information for use in negotiating theconnection with the data collection device 406.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another example heating system 500 thatincludes a heating power supply 502 having a transmitter circuit 504,and a data collection device 506 that includes a receiver circuit 508and a control circuit 510. The example transmitter circuit 504 may besimilar or identical to the transmitter circuit 126 of FIGS. 1 and/or 3,but is implemented in the heating power supply 502 for transmission ofcontrol and/or configuration information to the data collection device506. Conversely, the receiver circuit 508 may be similar or identical tothe receiver circuit 112 of FIGS. 1 and/or 3, but is implemented in thedata collection device 506 to receive data from the heating power supply502 via the induction heating cable 104.

The example systems 400, 500 of FIGS. 4 and/or 5 may be modifiedaccording to any of the modifications discussed above with reference toFIGS. 1, 2, and/or 3.

While the above examples are described with reference to inductionheating, the examples may be modified to be used for resistive heating,in which a heating cable provides electrical power to a heating element(or serves as the heating element) which is heated via I²R heating andthermally coupled to a workpiece to be heated. The examples describedabove may be modified to communicate via the resistive heating cablebased on the application heating power and/or heating frequencies in theheating cable.

As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer tophysical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/orfirmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by thehardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As usedherein, for example, a particular processor and memory may comprise afirst “circuit” when executing a first one or more lines of code and maycomprise a second “circuit” when executing a second one or more lines ofcode. As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items inthe list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means anyelement of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. In other words, “xand/or y” means “one or both of x and y”. As another example, “x, y,and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x,y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. In other words, “x, y and/or z” means“one or more of x, y and z”. As utilized herein, the term “exemplary”means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. Asutilized herein, the terms “e.g.,” and “for example” set off lists ofone or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations. Asutilized herein, circuitry is “operable” to perform a function wheneverthe circuitry comprises the necessary hardware and code (if any isnecessary) to perform the function, regardless of whether performance ofthe function is disabled or not enabled (e.g., by a user-configurablesetting, factory trim, etc.).

While the present method and/or system has been described with referenceto certain implementations, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes may be made and equivalents may besubstituted without departing from the scope of the present methodand/or system. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the presentdisclosure without departing from its scope. For example, block and/orcomponents of disclosed examples may be combined, divided, re-arranged,and/or otherwise modified. Therefore, the present method and/or systemare not limited to the particular implementations disclosed. Instead,the present method and/or system will include all implementationsfalling within the scope of the appended claims, both literally andunder the doctrine of equivalents.

1. A induction heating power supply, comprising: a power conversioncircuit configured to: convert input power into induction heating power;and transmit the induction heating power via an induction heating cable;and at least one of a receiver circuit coupled to the induction heatingcable and configured to receive data via the induction heating cable ora transmitter circuit coupled to the induction heating cable andconfigured to transmit data via the induction heating cable.
 2. Theinduction heating power supply as defined in claim 1, further comprisinga control circuit configured to control the power conversion circuit tomodify the induction heating power based on the data.
 3. The inductionheating power supply as defined in claim 2, wherein the data comprisesat least one of an ambient temperature at a workpiece being heated withthe induction heating cable, a temperature of the induction heatingcable, a temperature of a blanket in contact with the induction heatingcable, a temperature of the workpiece, a coolant temperature, a coolantpressure, a coolant flow rate, a current measurement of current flowingthrough the induction heating cable, a voltage measurement of a voltageat the induction heating cable, an error signal, or a control signal. 4.The induction heating power supply as defined in claim 1, wherein thedata comprises at least one of a workpiece identifier, an inductionheating cable identifier, an operator identifier, date information, timeinformation, geographic information, a cable fixture identifier, oroperator input.
 5. The induction heating power supply as defined inclaim 1, wherein the at least one of the receiver circuit or thetransmitter circuit comprises at least one of a high pass filter circuitor a bandpass filter circuit to attenuate the induction heating power.6. The induction heating power supply as defined in claim 1, wherein theat least one of the receiver circuit or the transmitter circuitcomprises a low pass filter circuit to attenuate the induction heatingpower.
 7. The induction heating power supply as defined in claim 1,further comprising an isolation circuit to selectively electricallyisolate the at least one of the receiver circuit or the transmittercircuit based on whether the induction heating power is flowing throughthe induction heating cable.
 8. The induction heating power supply asdefined in claim 1, further comprising an antenna configured to receivethe data from the induction heating cable, the receiver circuitcomprising a radio receiver to wirelessly receive the data via theantenna.
 9. The induction heating power supply as defined in claim 1,further comprising a data storage device configured to store the data asthe data is received at the receiver circuit.
 10. The induction heatingpower supply as defined in claim 9, further comprising a secondtransmitter circuit to transmit the stored data.
 11. The inductionheating power supply as defined in claim 1, wherein the power conversioncircuit is configured to, when not outputting the induction heatingpower via the induction heating cable, output a pulse via the inductionheating cable, the receiver circuit configured to receive the data viathe induction heating cable in response to the pulse.
 12. The inductionheating power supply as defined in claim 1, wherein the power conversioncircuit is configured to provide the induction heating power via theinduction heating cable for a first time period, reduce or remove theinduction heating power for a second time period following the firsttime period, and provide the induction heating power via the inductionheating cable during a third time period following the second timeperiod, the receiver circuit configured to receive the data during thesecond time period.
 13. An induction heating data collection device,comprising: a transmitter circuit to transmit induction heating data viaan alternating current signal at a frequency different than an inductionheating current frequency on an induction heating cable; and a couplingcircuit to couple the transmitter circuit to the induction heatingcable.
 14. The induction heating data collection device as defined inclaim 13, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a current transformerconfigured to be magnetically coupled to the induction heating cable ora cable tap to couple the coupling circuit in parallel with aninductance of a workpiece heated by the induction heating cable.
 15. Theinduction heating data collection device as defined in claim 13, furthercomprising a filter circuit to attenuate the induction heating currentfrequency between the transmitter circuit and the coupling circuit. 16.The induction heating data collection device as defined in claim 13,further comprising an energy storage device to provide power to thetransmitter circuit when induction heating power is not beingtransmitted through the induction heating cable.
 17. The inductionheating data collection device as defined in claim 16, furthercomprising a power extraction circuit to extract power from theinduction heating cable via the coupling circuit to charge the energystorage device.
 18. The induction heating data collection device asdefined in claim 13, further comprising a power extraction circuit toextract power from the induction heating cable via the coupling circuitand to provide power to the transmitter circuit.
 19. The inductionheating data collection device as defined in claim 13, furthercomprising at least one of: a sensor digitizer to receive data from atleast one of a temperature sensor, a coolant pressure sensor, a coolantflow sensor, or a location sensor; a data reader to read an identifier;or a user interface to receive the data.
 20. The induction heating datacollection device as defined in claim 13, further comprising a receivercircuit to receive second data via the induction heating cable. 21.(canceled)
 22. (canceled)
 23. (canceled)
 24. (canceled)
 25. (canceled)